The Freestanding Koi - Patreon Exclusive

Suspended in stillness, the scales shimmering in stacked gradients from deep ocean blue to burnished gold. Every fin and every barbel is cut in deep relief with the fluidity of ink on skin. It stands on its own.

The archivists file it beside the Psychedelic Koi as the same fish from a pool the lava did not reach, and beside Nibbles as the same fish from a pond that nobody drained. Of the three it is the only one that stayed calm. Some relics are meant to float, even on a shelf. Vault-sealed.